Naughty or Nice... by Heather Clark

It is make or break it. Your whole year has built up to this point. Children will wonder if they will get a car or celery? Candy or coal in their stockings. As Christmas gets closer, they will then try extra hard to suck up to the gift givers, call up relatives they haven't spoken to in a few months, refrain from attacking their siblings; no matter how annoying they seem to be, and try to make an A in their classes.

But what is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts, the trees, the lights, the cards, the dinners, the shows, family time, stockings, and Santa? For many people that is certainly not it. They don't have the money, they don't have the kids to buy presents for, or maybe they're missing a loved one no longer around. Despite these things Christmas is still a holiday that brings much joy, because it is a time when we're reminded of God's great love for us.

Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of Christ. God sent his son Jesus into the world to be born. He sent his son into this cruel hard world so that one day he would bring salvation to us all, otherwise we all would've died in our sins. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Regardless of what is happening in our lives we can be happy knowing Heaven will be our home one day. I want to encourage you to invite Jesus into your heart this year, and to remember it's not the gifts, trees, lights, or even Santa but rather Jesus is the reason for the season. Enjoy your family and friends and thank God for sending us his one and only son. 

Have a Merry Christmas!

The Divine Mentor - Jeremiah the Prophet who never gave up! by Debbie McGrath

Our ladies class is using the Divine Mentor Plan to read thru the Bible.  We just finished the book of Jeremiah and there is so much to learn from this great prophet. 

Jeremiah is gone but the words he wrote are still with us.

One of my favorite verses: 
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flowers fade but the word of our God stands forever.

Jeremiah was a true prophet and he suffered persecution because of it.  He knew the greatest problem of Judah was it's sin. Today we believe our nation's greatest problem is unemployment, inflation, lack of defense, etc.  America's greatest problem - Sin.

Jeremiah did not give a surface, happy message.  He taught people so their hearts and minds would be transformed.

By human standards, Jeremiah's ministry was a dismal failure.  He preached for over 40 years and only a few believed.  He only had a few friends who stood with him and encouraged him.  Jeremiah may have thought he failed but God saw him a a faithful servant and that is all that really counts.  Jeremiah could have quit but he didn't.

I love this quote by Edman:  "IT'S ALWAYS TO SOON TO QUIT."

Jeremiah became like Jesus which is the greatest reward of ministry.

-Both 

were accused of being traitors

suffered physically

arrested, beaten and confined

wept over Jerusalem

rejected by their own families

misunderstood, rejected and lonely.

In the difficult times of life - Jeremiah was conformed to the image of Christ.

The same Lord who enabled Jeremiah enables us!!

Salvation = Jesus by Deena Serafin

Divine Mentor Reading

September 1:  Ezekiel 15-16; Psalm 70; Rev. 6

Salvation = Jesus

Ps. 70:4 "But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, 'Let God be exalted!'"

Salvation in Hebrew is yshuwah. Yeshuwa means "he will save". Yeshuwah - Jeshua - Jesus

Jesus is the only salvation- our only hope - our peace - my peace. He died for my sin -- my selfish, arrogant, demanding, self-absorbed sin. No one else could have done this for me. No one but my Yeshuwa , my Jeshua, my Jesus. 

Thank You, Father, for having a plan for my salvation before I even existed. Thank You, Jesus, for being my salvation. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for drawing me to Jesus. Thank You. Amen.